Rookies propel Broadway box office rise

'Follies' returns to millionaires club

Broadway box office gained some steam in Week 20 (Oct. 10-16) as four productions began previews and “Follies” returned to the millionaires’ club.

“Other Desert Cities” ($334,839 for six previews), “Chinglish” ($305,443 for eight), “Godspell” ($268,641 for six) and “Venus in Fur” ($157,454 for five) all joined the fray.

“Follies” ($1,037,906), which reported a dip two weeks ago likely prompted by a flurry of soon-to-expire discount ducat prices, jumped back up over the $1 million mark. Meanwhile, any worries of a hit from the Occupy Wall Street demonstration, which decamped over the weekend to Times Square, proved unfounded. “Priscilla Queen of Desert” ($860,673), for instance, rose by more than $100,000, fueled by an appearance on Rosie O’Donnell’s yakker.

Rialto cume hit $21,328,673 for the 26 shows on the boards. Attendance tally of 229,906 came to 88% of overall capacity, well ahead of last season at this time, when it rang in at 81.9%.

The 19 musicals grossed $17,916,594 for 84% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 185,995 at 87.6% capacity and an average paid admission of $96.33.

The seven plays grossed $3,412,079 for 16% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 43,911 at 91.9% capacity and an average paid admission of $77.70.